Multiple conductor connector



Nov. 3, 1964 c. KOWALESKI ETAL 3,155,446

MULTIPLE CONDUCTOR CONNECTOR Filed May 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 3 Q I Q 3 FIG.

v c. KOWALESK/ INVENTORS ATTORNEY c. KOWALESKI ETAL 3,155,446

MULTIPLE CONDUCTOR CONNECTOR Nov; 3, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1962 C. KOWALESK/ INVENTORS m PFERD A T Tom/Er Nov. 3, 1964 c. KOWALESKI ETAL 3,155,446

MULTIPLE CONDUCTOR couumcwoa Filed May 9, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet a C. KOWALESK/ lNl/ENTZSS United States Patent York Filed May 9, 1962, Ser. No. 193,514 7 Claims. (Cl. 339-176) This invention relates to electrical devices for making connections between electrical conductors and more specifically to electrical devices having a multiplicity of removable and interchangeable electrical terminals.

One of the major economic factors in marketing an acceptable electrical connector is the human installation time and cost required to make, change, and remake electrical connections in the field. Connectors incorporating soldered junctures, screw or nut type terminals, nonremovable terminals and the like may necessitate so many installer operations in making and remaking electrical connections that maintenance costs defeat any economic value of the terminal itself. Those connectors requiring soldered or crirnped joints or including nonremovable electrical terminals may defeat entirely any field changes in electrical connections Without the use of special tools or the complete replacement of the entire connector.

An object of the invention is to provide a multiple wire connector.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector with removable and mutually substitutional terminals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electrical terminal of such shape as to facilitate field maintenance without fear of damaging the terminal.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a multiple wire connector with easily removable terminals.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a multiple wire connector with removable terminals wherein the terminals may be removed and mutually interchanged in the field without the need of special tools or equipment.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an electrical terminal being generally U-shaped in cross section throughout its entire length thereby being rigid and durable in structure.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of an electrical terminal that can be permanently fastened to an electrical conductor but may be interchanged at will with any other terminal in a connector.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a two piece connector.

structural rigidity and protects the terminal and spring contact during field maintenance. A cantilever spring originates on the. bottom of the U-shaped cross section and is bent so that a portion adjacent the free end of the cantilever spring is projected outside of the sides of the U-shaped cross section. The free end is then reverse bent back towards and in between the two sides of the U-shaped cross section to protect the cantilever spring. The projected portion of the cantilever spring forms a spring type contact surface. Each terminal includes restraining means on one end and fixing means on the other. H

The terminals are inserted into rectangular slots in the insulating blocks through the rear surfaces of the latter.

An appropriately located barrier ridge cooperates with the aforementioned restraining means to prevent relative motion between the terminal and the insulating block both in directions parallel to and perpendicular to the axis of the terminal. The fixing means includes a tab projecting from the end of the terminal in such manner that it cooperates with the rear surface of the insulating block to regulate the insertion depth of the terminal in the insulating block.

The retaining bar fits over the fixing means (tab projecting from the terminal) and fastens solidly to the insulating blocks rear surface, thereby preventing accidental extraction of the terminals from the insulating block. Removal of the retaining bar by an installer or maintenance man provides access to the terminals and allows him to rearrange, alternate, or interchange any terminal in the block with another. The hood covers and protects the entire connector structure. Except for a screwdriver or other ordinary, readily accessible tools for removing the retaining bar and hood, no special tools or equipment are needed to make changes in the electrical connections.

A variation of this device is also apparent to those skilled in the art. If the terminals in one half of a two piece connector can be interchanged with each other in the same insulating block, it is obvious that the terminals in the other half of the connector may be permanently mounted in their insulating block without destroying the feature of complete electrical connection interchangeability. This is also contemplated in this invention by providing a permanent restraining means on the electrical connectors in one of the two insulating blocks.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the connector showing the respective locations of the various elements;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows the contacting of the electrical terminals of the two insulating blocks;

FIG. 3 is an isometric exploded view of the connector and indicates the assembly of the device;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one of the electrical terminals;

FIG. 5 is an inverted isometric View of a variation of one of the electrical terminals;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view indicating the relative positions of the terminals within the insulating blocks, the contacting of the terminals, and the cooperation of the retaining bar, terminals, and insulating block; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part of an electrical terminal showing the indentations of the sides of the U-shaped cross section underneath the projected cantilever spring.

According to the invention as depicted by the various figures, the connector comprises two insulating blocks 10 and 11, a multiplicity of electrical terminals 12, terminal retaining bars 13, and connector hoods or guards 14.

The insulating'blocks 1t) and 11 have rectangular slots 15 (see FIG. 3) extending from the rear surfaces 24 of the insulating blocks 10 and 11 to an appropriately located barrier ridge 16 adjacent the front surfaces of the blocks 10 and 11. Rectangular openings 17 in the barrier ridge 16 extend through the barrier ridge 16 and into the rectangular slots 15. Each rectangular slot 15 is shaped to receive an electrical terminal 12.

-;The electrical terminals 12are generally U-shaped in cross section, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and havecantitenance, a rigid resilient structure was deemed necessary. -It-will be noted that the U-shaped cross section is main- .sides of the terminal or other like means.

tained throughout the entire length of the electrical terminals 12 to fulfill this object. A cantilever spring 19 originates from the bottom 20 of the U-shaped cross section and is bent at an angle to project a portion 18 of the cantilever spring 19 outside of the two sides 21 and 212 of the U-shaped cross section. The free end 23 of the cantilever spring 1%? is reverse bent back towards and in between the two sides 21 and 22 of the U-shaped cross section. The two sides 21 and 22 of the U-shaped cross section are indented towards the center of the U- shaped cross section under the projected portion 18 of the cantilever spring 19, as shown in FIG, 7. The indentations close the channel section to a degree narrower than the width of the cantilever spring 19, thereby preventing the cantilever spring 19 from being forced back in between the two sides 21 and 22 of the U-shaped cross section. Electrical contact is insured and overstressing of the contact 18 prevented by the indentations.

Restraining means are located on one end of each electrical terminal 12 and comprise in this instance a tab 25 adjacent a shoulder 26. On the other end fixing means are located which, in this instance, include a side wise projection 27.

The connector is assembled by introducing the electrical terminals 12 into the rectangular slots 15 through the rear surfaces 24 of the insulating blocks 16 and 11. The end of the terminals 12 with the restraining tabs 25 inserted first. Each terminal is progressed into the slot 15 until the restraining tab 25 mates with a rectangular opening 17 in the barrier ridge 16 and the restraining shoulder 26 butts against the barrier ridge 1%. The co operation between the restraining shoulder 26 and the barrier ridge 16 prevents relative motion between the terminal 12 and the insulating block it or 11 in a direction parallel to the axis of the terminal 12. The cooperation of the restraining tab 25 with a rectangular opening 17 and the slot 15 with the electrical terminal 12 prevents relative motion between the terminal 12 and the insulating block 10 or 11 in directions perpendicular to the axis of the terminal 12. The fixing tab 27 comes in contact with the rear surface 24 or" the insulating blocks 19 or 11 when the restraining tab 25 and the restraining shoulder 26 come into contact with a rectangular opening 17 and the barrier ridge 16.

The retaining bar 13 is then fixed to the insulating block id or 11. The retaining bar 13 operatively contacts the fixing or sidewise projecting tab 27 of the electrical terminals 12 and secures the terminals 12 in the insulating blocks 10 or 11. The hood or guard 14 is then placed over the retaining bar 13 and secured to an incoming cable and the insulating block 19 or 11. The

. guard covers and protects the retaining bar 13 and terminals 12 with their associated wires. The interconnections between the wires of the incoming cable and the connector terminals 12 are not part of the invention but it is suggested that such interconnections can be made either by soldering, crimping of the wire between the The insulating block 19 can then be mated .with the insulating block 11, thereby electrically interconnecting the electrical'termi- .nals 12 or" the insnlatingblock 19 with those of the in sulating block 11. 7

It is to be noted that an installer. or maintenance man can make, remake, or alternate any pair of electrical interconnections in. the connector by simply removing the hood 14 and retaining bar 13 of either half of the connector. The electrical terminal 12 is extracted from its rectangular slot 15 and interchanged'or placed into another slot 15 in the insulating blockltl or 11. This operation can .be accomplished in the field using ordinary tools, re, a screwdriver or the like, and can be done without separating the two insulating blocks 10 and 11.

I V In accordance with the variation of this device afore mentioned wherein the terminals 12 in one insulating block 10 and il are permanently fixed in the block, the

terminals 12 may be easily permanently fixed in an insulating block 10 or 11 by using the variation of the terminal 12 as suggested by FIG. 5. The restraining tab 25 is lengthened so that when the terminal 12 is fully inserted into a rectangular slot 15, the tab 25 will extend through the rectangular opening 17 and beyond the barrier ridge 16. The extended tab can then be bent over, thereby preventing the terminal 12 from being extracted from the insulating block 10 or 11.

The use of an extended tab 25 as explained above dispenses with the necessity of using a retaining bar 13 as none is needed to retain the terminals 12 in the insulating block 10 or 11. Terminals 12 inserted and fixed in an insulating block 11 in this fashion are shown in FIG. 6.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific structure illustrated and that it may be employed in many ways too numerous to mention by those skilled in the art. Such use is within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple wire connector comprising a mating pair of insulating blocks including a multiplicity of removable electrical terminals in each of said blocks, and a retaining bar associated with at least one of said blocks, said terminals contained in one block being in electrical contact with the terminals in the other, said terminals having spring contact surfaces and being generally U- inating at a point intermediate the ends of said terminals on the bottom of the U-shaped section and bent at an angle to project outside of the U-shaped section thereby forming the spring contact surface, the free end of said cantilever spring bent back towards and into the U-shaped section to protect the cantilever springs, both sides of the U-shaped cross section indented towards the center of the section in a portion under the projected spring, said indentations closing the cross section to a degree narrower than the cantilever spring thereby preventing the spring from being forced down in between the sides of said section, said terminals having restraining means on one end and fixing means on the other, said latter means clamped to said blocks by said wherein said mating pair of insulating blocks each have front and rear surfaces; by removing said bars said terminals are removable, interchangeable and insertable in the blocks through said rear surfaces without separating said blocks and without disturbing the electrical connections between the other terminals in said mating blocks.

3. A multiple wire connector according to claim 2 wherein said terminals are contained in compartments in said blocks and said fixing means comprises a sidewise projection on one end of the terminal, said projection in contact with the rear surfaces of the insulating blocks and clamped to the latter by bar to prevent extraction of the terminals from the insulating blocks.

4. A multiple wire connector comprising an insulating block having front and rear surfaces, said block including a multiplicity of removable electrical terminals and a retaining bar associated'with said block, said tervminals having spring contact surfaces and being removable and insertable in said insulating block through the rear surface, said terminals being generally U-shaped in cross section throughout their entire length and having cantilever snrin s ori inatin at a point intermediate i g e --faces,;the free endof said cantilever spring bent ba k towardsand into the U-shaped section P110936t the ;cantilever springs, both; sides got th ?P 5 section indented toward the center of the section in a portion under the projected spring, said indentations closing the cross section to a degree narrower than the cantilever spring thereby preventing the spring from being forced down in between the sides of said section, said terminals having restraining means on one end and fixing means on the other, the latter means clamped to said block by said bar thereby preventing extraction of said terminals from said block.

5. A multiple wire connector according to claim 4 wherein said insulating block has in its front surface an elongated rectangular trough with compartments in the long side walls of said trough to contain the terminals, said compartments comprising a rectangular slot extending from an opening in the rear surface of the insulating block to a barrier ridge adjacent the front surface of said insulating block, said barrier ridge including apertures to cooperate with the restraining means of the terminals, said last named means further comprising a projection and a shoulder on one end of said terminals, said apertures shaped to admit said projections and to allow said shoulder to butt against said ridge.

6. A multiple wire connector according to claim 4 wherein said insulating block has a base portion with front and rear surfaces and an elongated rectangular projection on a plane perpendicular to the front surface of said portion, said projection including compartments in the long walls of the projection in which are contained the electrical terminals, said compartments comprising a rectangular slot extending from an opening in the rear surface of the portion of the block to a barrier ridge adjacent the end of said projection, the ridge including apertures to cooperate with the restraining means of the electrical terminals, said last named means further comprising a projection and a shoulder on one end of said terminals, said apertures shaped to admit said projections and to allow said shoulder to butt against said ridge, said fixing means in contact with the rear surface of said portion when said shoulder butts against said ridge thereby preventing relative movement of the electrical terminals with respect to the insulating block.

7. An electrical terminal comprising a metallic body having a spring contact surface and being generally U- shaped in cross section throughout its entire length, said terminal having a cantilever spring originating at a point intermediate the ends of said terminal on the bottom of the U-shaped section and being bent at an angle to project outside of the U-shaped section thereby forming the spring contact surface, the free end of said cantilever spring bent back toward and into the U-shaped section to protect said spring, both sides of the U-shaped cross section indented towards the center of the section in a portion under the projected spring, said indentations closing the cross section to a degree narrower than the cantilever spring thereby preventing the spring from being forced down in between the sides of said section, said terminal having restraining means on one end and fixing means on the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,531,816 Russell Mar. 31, 1925 2,945,201 Waninger July 12, 1960 2,946,033 Wirth July 19, 1960 3,015,083 Juris Dec. 26, 1961 

1. A MULTIPLE WIRE CONNECTOR COMPRISING A MATING PAIR OF INSULATING BLOCKS INCLUDING A MULTIPLICITY OF REMOVABLE ELECTRICAL TERMINALS IN EACH OF SAID BLOCKS, AND A RETAINING BAR ASSOCIATED WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID BLOCKS, SAID TERMINALS CONTAINED IN ONE BLOCK BEING IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE TERMINALS IN THE OTHER, SAID TERMINALS HAVING SPRING CONTACT SURFACES AND BEING GENERALLY USHAPED IN CROSS SECTION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID TERMINALS, THE LATTER HAVING CANTILEVER SPRINGS ORIGINATING AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID TERMINALS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE U-SHAPED SECTION AND BENT AT AN ANGLE TO PROJECT OUTSIDE OF THE U-SHAPED SECTION THEREBY FORMING THE SPRING CONTACT SURFACE, THE FREE END OF SAID CANTILEVER SPRING BENT BACK TOWARDS AND INTO THE U-SHAPED SECTION TO PROTECT THE CANTILEVER SPRINGS, BOTH SIDES OF THE U-SHAPED CROSS SECTION INDENTED TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE SECTION IN A PORTION UNDER THE PROJECTED SPRING, SAID INDENTATIONS CLOSING THE CROSS SECTION TO A DEGREE NARROWER THAN THE CANTILEVER SPRING THEREBY PREVENTING THE SPRING FROM BEING FORCED DOWN IN BETWEEN THE SIDES OF SAID SECTION, SAID TERMINALS HAVING RESTRAINING MEANS ON ONE END AND FIXING MEANS ON THE OTHER, SAID LATTER MEANS CLAMPED TO SAID BLOCKS BY SAID BARS PREVENTING EXTRACTION OF SAID TERMINALS FROM SAID BLOCKS. 